And lots of other amazing things happened. I didn’t even talk about all the gyros I ate at the Filmloom show, or the impromptu Von Strantz band at the Christmas Explosion, or the time I hosted that Aaron Strumpel show at a completely different venue, or all the other amazing volunteers who have come on board to make the Radon even better. 2013 was an awesome year for the Radon Lounge, chances are 2014 will be even better.

We’re very excited about this show coming on Feb 1st. It’s been in the works for a couple months now, and we think it’s time to start telling you about it!

This will be THE SHOW you cannot miss in first half of 2014. This will also be our first show hosting a band from ANOTHER COUNTRY! The other country is Canada, but hey, it still counts.

The band? THE STRUMBELLAS.

The Strumbellas

Here’s what the Juno award nominated band from Toronto has to say about themselves: “Hopeful lyrics play across the sweeping bluegrass-inspired indie rock music in The Strumbellas’ new single “In This Life”, from their new album, We Still Move On Dance Floors. Full of hand claps and gang-vocal harmonies, the song stays true to The Strumbellas’ roots, while giving off a feeling that something new is on the horizon. For their sophomore album, the Lindsay, Ontario band headed to the woods of the pacific north west, settling in at Bear Creek Studio just outside of Seattle to record with Grammy nominated producer, Ryan Hadlock (Metric, Gossip, Moondoggies, The Lumineers). It seemed a natural progression for the band, whose dark lyrics about death and solitude crop up amongst beautiful lyrical mindscapes”

Also be sure to check out their sweet and very Canadian music video:

This show will be another exception to the rule that nothing happens in Springfield. How many more exceptions do you need?

Also performing this show will be ALEX AND THE XO’S. A sweet indie from Bloomington/Normal.

Alex and the XO’s

“Normal, Illinois band who play C86 style jangle-pop with bouncy guitars, brightly burning rhythms, catchy twee-pop melodies and a ukulele–which gives rise to some folk overtones. There’s an abundance of memorable tunes with hooks that will stick in your brain & induce head-bopping smiles, and the band isn’t afraid to crank up the guitars occasionally. But the real star here is the voice of lead singer, Alexandra Fisher, who has the sort of gentle, magically haunting quality that gets under your skin and grabs your emotions– similar to Tracey Thorn or Angie Heaton. Overall, the band sometimes recalls artists like the Wedding Present, Talulah Gosh, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Shop Assistants, the Shins, Beirut, Amanda Palmer, Folk Implosion.” -Charlie Quaker (The Quaker Goes Deaf Radio)

Rounding out the show will be one of our favorite Springfield local bands LOVECOW with their anxiety driven 5 piece “Appalachian Acousti-Thrash-Punk or Something” style and THE PHOENIX SONS who have risen from the ashes somebody must have accidentally dropped on the Radon stage over the past year during one of those open mics or cover shows.

We’ll be working on the facebook event soon. For now stay tuned for more updates on this show plus others coming up for the Radon Lounge. We have a feeling it only gets better from here!

It was everywhere, there’s no getting the Christmas out of these clothes.

It was a legendary evening with so many fun happenings on literally multiple levels. People playing video games over a projector in the 2nd floor dormer. People munching on foods and chillin’ by the fire in the living room. People winning some sweet vinyl.

And of course the bands. Aaron Lee Martin and his 30 strings did a great job bringing the “sad bastard church music”, and Jess of Von Strantz ending the evening. Von Strantz was made up of local volunteers to create a band that was half Lovecow, 1 part oboe, and 1 part Jess Strantz. It was an amazing evening!